Ribbed post

ABSTRACT

A post for mounting to the ground and for supporting elongate flexible filaments transverse to the post. The hollow member has opposite first and second ends. The first end is adapted for mounting to the ground. Stiffeners are mounted within the hollow post so as to extend between the first and second ends. First and second oppositely disposed elongate raised flanges are mounted on the post so as to extend outwardly therefrom. The flanges extend between the first and second ends. The raised flanges each have a longitudinally spaced apart array of filament receiving cavities. Each cavity is an aperture through a corresponding raised flange and has an opening providing access into the aperture from a distal edge of the corresponding raised flange for receiving therethrough the filament for mounting the filament into the aperture. Each opening has a constriction having an opening dimension which is substantially equivalent to a diameter of the filament.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the field of post and wire systems forsupporting growing plants and trees including fruit bearing varieties,such as grapes used for making wine.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Certain plant crops such as, without intending to be limiting, grapevines, require support in order to train the plant to grow in a desiredfashion and to reduce fruit spoilage by keeping developing and ripenedfruit off of the ground. Plant support systems are characteristicallycomprised of a trellis system having one or more wires strung betweenposts. In a vineyard trellis system, for example, one to two wires arestrung between posts spaced approximately 16 to 24 feet apart, whichposts are ordinarily approximately 3 to 4 inches in diameter.

The posts are commonly made of wood which has been pressure-treated witha preservative so as to slow the rate at which they rot. One such woodpreservative is chromated copper arsenate which contains arsenic. It isbelieved that arsenic can leach to the surface of the wood and fromthere, into the surrounding ground. If plants are growing in groundwhich into which the arsenic has leached, such plants may absorb thearsenic. Consequently, the plants themselves, and potentially any fruitsborne by them may contain traces of arsenic. Once on the surface of thewood post, the arsenic can also be absorbed by the skin of those cominginto contact with the treated posts as, for example, during trellisconstruction and maintenance. Arsenic is a known carcinogen.

Where wood posts are used, wires are ordinarily attached to the posts bymeans of metal staples or clips for holding the wires. The staples orclips are nailed onto the post. As the wood ages and dries, the staplesor clips often loosen and pop out. This may result in damage to theplant which depended from the wire supported by the loosened staples orclips. Where the loosened staples or clips fall onto the ground, damageto vehicle tires may also result. In some instances, wires are attachedto the posts by stringing the wire through holes which have been drilledthrough the wooden posts. Where long lengths of wires are required asin, for example, many field applications, this method requires longerconstruction time and is often impractical. It may also result inincreased wear on the post at the points where the wire contacts theposts, particularly when the wire is bearing the weight of plants.

Less commonly, the posts may be made of metal treated so as to be rustresistant. Depending upon the manner in which they are constructed andinstalled, metal posts may have strength and durability problems in thefield. Metal posts may also tend to absorb significant amounts of heatduring the day, which heat may be released at night to the detriment ofthe plants and fruit proximate to such metal posts.

Hence, there is a need for, and it is an object of the present inventionto provide an alternative means for supporting crop bearing plants andtrees which may avoid or reduce some of the problems outlined aboveassociated with the use of conventional post and wire systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is for use in association with the support ofplants and trees including fruit bearing varieties such as grape vines.

The present invention replaces the conventional plant or tree trellissystem comprised of wooden posts with wire staples or clips attachedthereto to hold wires which, in turn, support live plants or trees suchas, without intending to be limiting, grape vines. The present inventionemploys in one embodiment hollow, cylindrical posts. One end of the postmay be made flat with an adaptor cap, and the other, opposite end,chisel-shaped. The post is made of a resilient material such as, withoutintending to be limiting, extruded plastic such as PVC, ABS or otherconventional plastic materials or plastic and wood fibre compositematerials. When made with PVC it can be created with multiple layerextrusions, with an outer layer including an UV inhibitor sufficient toprovide 50 years of non degradation by UV A or B rays. The internalportion of the PVC post is comprised of several other additives thatwill give the internal structure the strength coupled with flexibilitysufficient to sustain a heavily loaded trellis, subjected to high windloads, and durable enough to survive heavy machine-operated pruners andharvesters. Internally and longitudinally mounted within each post isany suitable form of stiffener for reinforcement such that, when thechisel shaped end of the post is driven a sufficient distance into theground, the post becomes self-supporting and requires no additionalbuttressing or bracing in order to remain substantially vertical whileunder load. Without intending to be limiting, such internalreinforcement may be comprised of a set of oppositely disposedlongitudinal ribs extending radially outwardly from a centroidallongitudinal axis of the post, so as to contact the cylindrical outerwall of the post. For example, the ribs may form an “X” or a “Y” shapein cross-section.

On the exterior of the post are two substantially co-planar ribs,ridges, clips or protrusions, collectively and alternatively referred toherein as “ridges” or “flanges”. Each ridge or flange contains an arrayor series of spaced-apart C-shaped mounted or formed notches orapertures to hold flexible filaments such as wires and, withoutintending to be limiting, trellis wires. As used herein, reference to“wires” is intended to include wires, lines, strings or other elongateflexible filaments. Each aperture, that is to say, each wire holder, hasan opening oppositely disposed relative to the post. Each opening isformed between a pair of resilient opposed facing flanges.Advantageously, and without intending to be limiting, each pair offlanges is spaced apart by a distance which is slightly less than thediameter of the wire to be inserted through such opening into the wireholder cavity. When a wire is placed against the aperture opening andpressure applied against the wire in the direction of the post, theflanges are sufficiently resilient so as to slightly deform enough toallow the wire to enter through the opening. Once the wire has enteredthe aperture and the external pressure against the opening has ceased,the flanges return to their un-deformed state thereby inhibitingunintended dislodgement of the wire from the receiving wire cavity. Inuse, weight-bearing wires are mounted into the wire holders so as toalternate sequentially from a ridge on one side of the post to theopposite ridge and so on along the length of the post so that only everysecond wire-receiving cavity on each ridge is used and the wires arealternatingly staggered upwardly along the length of the post. Theopposing forces acting on the post are thereby equalized to assist inmaintaining the stability of the post while in use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is, in front elevation view, the post according to one aspect ofthe present invention.

FIG. 2 a is, in an enlarged view, a section of the post of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2 b is, in partially cut-away right side perspective view, thesection of FIG. 2 a.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view along line 3-3 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is, in front perspective view, the post of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is, in side elevation view, the post of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

In the accompanying Figures, wherein like reference numerals denotecorresponding parts in each view, FIG. 1 illustrates basal end 16 ofpost 10 driven into ground 18. It is understood that post 10 would bemounted sufficiently deeply into ground 18 so as to be free-standingwhen un-loaded. Post 10 is in one embodiment a hollow, cylindrical post.The post may be flat and sealed on apical end 20, and is preferablychisel shaped on basal end 16. The chiseled shape of basal end 16 ofpost 10 is such that post 10 may be inserted into an augered hole orinto ground 18 with a post-pounder or other suitable post driving meansthereby securing post 10 in ground 18 without twisting the direction ofthe flanges, keeping them parallel to adjoining post flanges in thetrellis line. A pair of oppositely disposed ridges 12 are substantiallyco-planar, each ridge 12 containing a series such as linear spaced-apartarrays of notches or apertures 14 (collectively herein “apertures”).Apertures 14 are defined as cut-outs formed in ridges 12 wherein thecut-outs may be C-shaped as shown or of any other suitable shape such ascircular or elliptical. Alternatively, ridges 12 may be formed as clips,whether annular or otherwise, it being intended that the presentinvention extend to such structures by the collective reference toridges or flanges 12.

As is illustrated in FIGS. 2 a and 2 b, opening 30 of aperture 14 isdefined or bounded by a pair of opposed facing resilient flanges 32 and34 spaced apart by a vertical dimension d₁ wherein dimension d₁ is sizedfor a snug fit of wire 22 through opening 30 and in one embodiment d₁ isslightly less than the diameter of wire 22. If wire 22 is laid over andalong opening 30, that is preferably horizontally, and force is appliedagainst wire in direction A, resilient flanges 32 and 34 will bend ordeflect slightly inwardly into the corresponding cavity of aperture 14so as to allow wire 22 to enter aperture 14 through opening 30. That is,when wire 22 is placed horizontally against opening 30 and pressure isapplied against wire 22 in direction A, resilient flange 32 will bendslightly in direction B while resilient flange 34 concurrently bendsslightly in direction C or otherwise flanges 32 and 34 compress therebyslightly enlarging opening 30 sufficiently to allow wire 22 to “pop”through the opening to enter aperture 14. Once wire 22 has passedthrough opening 30 and the application of force in direction A hasceased, flanges 32 and 34 return to their undeformed state which returnsopening 30 to its original dimension d₁. It is thought that the sizingdimension d₁ slightly less than the diameter of wire 22 reduces thelikelihood of wire 22 dislodging from wire aperture 14. The internaldiameter of wire aperture 14 is larger than the diameter of wire 22 suchthat wire 22 may move freely within the confines of aperture 14. It isthought that this freedom of movement will allow for the tightening ofwire 22 to increase the tension of wire 22 as may be required from timeto time. It may also allow forces applied against wire 22 such as,without intending to be limiting, when grape vines are pruned or theirfruits harvested, to be longitudinally transmitted as tension along thelength of wire 22 so as to attenuate the intensity of the forcetransmitted from wire 22 to any one ridge 12 and its corresponding post10.

Internally and longitudinally mounted within each post 10 is anysuitable form of reinforcement such that, combined with thestrengthening from ridges 12, chisel shaped end 16 of post 10 may beforcefully driven in direction D into ground 18 to a depth sufficient tofirmly secure post 10 in ground 18, without damage to post 10, so thatpost 10 becomes self-supporting and requires no additional buttressingor bracing in order to remain substantially vertical. Without intendingto be limiting, FIGS. 1 and 3 illustrate one embodiment of the presentinvention wherein such internal reinforcement is comprised of a radiallyspaced apart array of ribs 40 perpendicularly disposed relative to oneanother and symmetrically about centroidal longitudinal axis E so as tobe longitudinally mounted within and along post 10. Without intending tobe limiting, post 10, ridges 12 and ribs 40 may be a unitary piece ofplastic material such as PVC or ABS. Ribs 40 provide internal support topost 10 strengthening and stiffening the post sufficient to enable it tosupport its own weight and the weight of vines on wires 22 and to remainvertical to ground 18 once installed and somewhat asymmetrically loaded.It is further thought that ribs 40 will enable post 10 to support, withminimal deformation, stress from the loading of wires 22 in apertures 14including the additional strain on wire 22 or aperture 14 created by theweight of plants such as, without intending to be limiting, fruit ladenvines supported by wire 22. The resulting strain on the wires, or aportion thereof, is transmitted from wire 22 to ridge 12 and post 10.Being made of a resilient material, it is thought that post 10 will besufficiently flexible so that post 10 may be able to bend so as toabsorb the shock of an external force such as that created, for example,by wind, workers, or field equipment striking post 10 or wire 22,thereby avoiding breakage and consequent damage to the plants and cropssupported by wire 22 and post 10 and yet be sufficiently rigid tosupport the weight of the loaded wires.

If post 10 is driven into ground 18 as, for example, by means of a postpounder, the application of considerable force in direction D to post 10may be required. Accordingly, the resilient material selected for post10 should be strong enough to withstand the application of such force.As the static and dynamic forces on post 10 and ridges 12 resulting itssupport of wire 22, which weight may be increased by plants supported bywire 22 such as, without intending to be limiting, grape vines, theresilient material selected for post 10, ribs 40 and ridges 12 shouldalso be sufficiently rigid and strong enough to support such weightwithout significant deformation. The resilient material selected forridges 12 should also be sufficiently resilient so as to allow thedeformation required to allow wire 22 to enter opening 30 as discussedabove.

Without intending to be limiting, post 10 may have the followingdimensions:

External diameter d₂ of post 10 (FIG. 3): 1.875 inches Ridge 14 width d₆(FIG. 3): 0.500 inches Post 10 length d₅ (FIG. 1): 8 feet Post wall 42thickness d₇ (FIG. 3): 0.160 inches Rib 40 thickness d₄ (FIG. 3): 0.128inches Ridge 14 thickness d₃ (FIG. 2b): 0.160 inches Width of opening 40d₁ (FIG. 2b): 0.080 inches

The use of post 10 of the present invention, which may have a diametersmaller than the conventional wood and metal posts, may also facilitatethe planting of additional rows of plants in a field which may, in turn,improve overall productivity and profitability. Although Applicant doesnot wish to be bound by any particular theory of operation, it ispostulated that where posts 10 are intended for use with certain cropssuch as grape vines, the coating of resilient post 10 with a reflectivematerial such as Titanium Dioxide at a minimum concentration of 10 phrmay be used such that post 10 refracts and reflects rather than absorblong and short wave radiant heat. It is thought that a resilient post 10with such refractive qualities would benefit the fruit and plant locatedclosest to post 10 as post 10 would absorb less heat during the day and,consequently, would release less heat overnight thereby allowing theplants and fruit closest to post 10 an opportunity to recover during thenight from the heat of the preceding day.

As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of theforegoing disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible inthe practice of this invention without departing from the spirit orscope thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to beconstrued in accordance with the substance defined by the followingclaims.

1. A post for mounting to the ground and for supporting elongateflexible filaments transverse to the post, comprising: a) a hollowmember having opposite first and second ends, said first end adapted formounting to the ground, stiffeners mounted within said hollow post so asto extend between said first and second ends; b) first and secondelongate raised flanges mounted on said post so as to extend outwardlytherefrom, said flanges mounted to said post in substantially oppositelydisposed relation and extending between said first and second ends; c)each of said first and second raised flanges having therein alongitudinally spaced apart array of filament receiving cavities whereineach cavity of said filament receiving cavities is an aperture through acorresponding raised flange of said first and second flanges, each saidaperture having an opening providing access into said aperture from adistal edge of said corresponding raised flange for receivingtherethrough said filament for mounting said filament into saidaperture; wherein each said opening has a constriction having an openingdimension which is substantially equivalent to a diameter of saidfilament, wherein said filament is mounted into said aperture by slidingsaid filament in a snug fit through said opening, whereby unintentionalremoval of said filament from said aperture is thereby inhibited.
 2. Thepost of claim 1 wherein said opening dimension is smaller than saidfilament diameter and wherein said corresponding raised flange adjacentsaid opening is resilient whereby during said snug fit of said filamentthrough said opening, said raised flange at said opening resilientlydeforms.
 3. The post of claim 2 wherein said first and second raisedflanges are each continuous raised ribs extending entirely alongsubstantially the length of said post.
 4. The post of claim 3 whereineach said aperture is substantially C-shaped.
 5. The post of claim 4wherein said arrays of apertures on said first and second flanges arealigned so that when said post is substantially vertical, said aperturesin said first and second flanges are aligned as substantially horizontalpairs.
 6. The post of claim 5 wherein said arrays of apertures on saidfirst and second raised flanges include at least four apertures in eachsaid array.
 7. The post of claim 6 wherein said stiffener comprises arigidly spaced apart array of rigid planar members mounted to each othercoaxially along a longitudinal axis substantially coinciding with alongitudinal centroidal axis of said post, said planar members extendingfrom said longitudinal axis to an interior surface of said post.
 8. Thepost of claim 7 wherein said post is a hollow cylinder and wherein saidrigidly spaced apart array of planar members is +-shaped incross-section laterally horizontally through said post.
 9. The post ofclaim 8 wherein one pair of said planar members are oppositely disposedrelative to each other on either side of said longitudinal axis, and arealigned so as to be substantially co-planar with said first and secondraised flanges.
 10. The post of claim 9 wherein said first end is shapedas a point for insertion into the ground.
 11. The post of claim 10wherein said pointed shape of said first end is substantially chiselshaped.
 12. The post of claim 11 wherein said first end is open.
 13. Thepost of claim 12 wherein said second end is sealed.
 14. The post ofclaim 1 wherein said stiffener comprises a rigidly spaced apart array ofrigid planar members mounted to each other coaxially along alongitudinal axis substantially coinciding with a longitudinalcentroidal axis of said post, said planar members extending from saidlongitudinal axis to an interior surface of said post.
 15. The post ofclaim 14 wherein said post is a hollow cylinder and wherein said rigidlyspaced apart array of planar members is±shaped in cross-sectionlaterally horizontally through said post.
 16. The post of claim 15wherein one pair of said planar members are oppositely disposed relativeto each other on either side of said longitudinal axis, and are alignedso as to be substantially co-planar with said first and second raisedflanges.
 17. The post of claim 1 wherein said first end is shaped as apoint for insertion into the ground.
 18. The post of claim 17 whereinsaid pointed shape of said first end is substantially chisel shaped. 19.The post of claim 18 wherein said first end is open.
 20. The post ofclaim 19 wherein said second end is sealed.